“I know.”
“And you can’t ask someone totheirprom,” I argue. “That’s not how it works.”
“That’s why I’m just offering.”
He blinks; I blink. Seph stands in the empty auditorium in silence; I stand in the empty auditorium in silence.
… Does this mean Seph is a banger for me too?
Nope. No way. Here we go jumping to conclusions again. Seph is just probably looking for an excuse to get into the Saint Agnes prom and flirt with my classmates.
“You’re offering, not asking,” I clarify.
“Clearly.”
I fold my arms over my chest, covering whatever noise my heart is making again. “I’m still not staying beyond ten minutes.”
Seph’s mouth curves into a grin. “We can even leave after five.”
26
I’m trying to figure out what I did to upset my sister this time around.
Did I forget to put her clothes in the laundry?
Did Ms. Abad tell her I was napping during chemistry?
Did she hear more gossip about Seph and me being MOMOL buddies?
All options could be a possibility at this point. After dismissal, Achi always tells me to meet her by the school’s exit gate so she can swipe me out. She’s already pissed whenever I’m late and make her wait (even if I always have very valid reasons!). But even when we have a shouting match or don’t speak to each other for weeks, she’s always on time during dismissal. Until today.
No message, no call, no advance notice.
I check the clock affixed atop the guard’s post at the gate. At this point, she’s over an hour late.
This is one moment when having a ghost father who could spy on people would be very useful. Since he stayed home to go through some things, we decided to meet back at the condo. Now that he has solid hands, I should probably give back Pa’s phone so I can at least reach him when we’re apart. Unless he’s like my sister, who already has a phone but can’t be bothered to check it.
hello??????I message her again.
Nothing.
pls reply so i know you’re alive
Oh god.
What if something happened to Achi? She’s usually all alone in her office, clueless to the world with her headphones on. What if she’s in danger, called Ma, but Dr. Derrick is the one who picked up, and now he’s currently moving in his sloth-like pace while my sister is in danger?!
“Achi, Achi!” I barge through her guidance office and find my sister…
… at her desk.
She slides down her headphones. “Nika, doors exist for people to knock on them.”
My head turns from the door to my sister. She seems to be relatively fine. The office doesn’t look like it was the site of a guidance counselor hostage situation.
“Did you not check the time?”
Achi jolts from her seat when she glances at her phone. “How is it five already?” she mumbles while clearing the papers on her desk.
